Jayne McGarvie - British Carriage Driver & Coach.

For many years, the "two wrinkles" rule was used as a quick guide to determine whether a bit was sitting correctly in a horse's mouth. The wrinkles form at the corners of the lips, known as the commissures. However, we now know that relying on wrinkles alone is often flawed.

Every horse's mouth is different. When assessing bit fit, we need to consider a range of factors, including:

• The length of the horse's "smile" and the fleshiness of the lips and commissures
• Tongue size and the position of the genioglossus muscle within the tongue
• The location of the molars and canine teeth
• Palate shape, depth and the grooves within the palate
• Bar width and sensitivity
• The style, thickness, and action of the bit itself

A horse with a long smile may show no wrinkles at all, even when the bit is sitting in the correct position.

This is why bit fitting is about so much more than counting wrinkles. It involves looking inside the mouth, understanding the horse's anatomy, and assessing how the bit interacts with the structures within the oral cavity.

Every horse is an individual, and the correct bit position for one may not be appropriate for another.

So, take a look inside your horse's mouth. Are you confident that your bit is sitting in the right place for your horse?

What is the major issue you can spot in the photo below? 👀

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿📸 Please follow the post belows instructions to view and order any photos from Hopetoun Driving Trials 2026 they are amazing 🤩😍 🤩 📸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼Best of luck to the all the RDA Groups taking part in the Grampian & Highland Regional qualifiers event for the RDA National Championships in Gloucestershire at Hartpury 🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼

It's be held at the Moray rda groups headquarters at Cranloch Riding Centre 🐴🎠🎩

I hope you all have a wonderful day 🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)
horsescotland
BHS Scotland

RDA National Championships Celebration Wall Join us in celebrating the magic of the RDA National Championships! Share why you love Champs, how it makes you feel, a favourite or special moment, or even describe it in three words.Together, let’s celebrate the passion, dedication, and joy that make Champs so special.

📢 Protect your horse, protect the herd.
With Equine Influenza cases currently on the rise across the country, now is the time to act. Vaccination is more than just a requirement for competition—it is the single most effective defence we have for your horse and the wider national population.

Given the high number of outbreaks, BEF strongly recommends moving to a six-monthly booster schedule, especially if you are planning to attend shows or clinics where your horse will mingle with others.

If your annual booster isn’t due yet but it has been more than six months since the last jab, consider bringing it forward now to ensure peak protection during this high-risk period.

Why move to six-monthly boosters?
✅ Higher Antibody Levels: Maintains a stronger internal shield against infection.
✅ Reduced Clinical Signs: If they do catch it, the impact is significantly less severe.
✅ Halt the Spread: Helps break the chain of transmission within the equine community.

Useful links in the comments!